China has condemned Japan's latest annual defense report, which laid out Japan's increasing worries about China's military modernization and expanding maritime activities in waters including the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Tuesday that China has made representations with Japan, and its strong opposition to the groundless criticisms on China's normal national defense development.

Hong also urged Japan to seriously re-examine itself to see whether such actions could be conducive to regional peace and stability. Hong also noted that Japan has gotten widespread attention from regional and international communities by making various excuses for its continuous arms expansion, reinforcement of military alliances and distorting facts on regional security issues in recent years.

Hong Lei, Spokesman, Chinese Foreign Ministry, said, "China has made solemn representations...opposition to the groundless criticisms..."

"Japan to seriously reexamine...whether such actions....regional peace and stability. "

"...making excuses for arms expansion...distorting facts on security issues..."